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From emotional crisis to empowerment : The journey of two mothers
Cain, Melissa Fanshawe, Melissa
Cain, Melissa
Fanshawe, Melissa
Author
Abstract
This article presents the experiences of 2 mothers whose children were born blind. It relates their journey moving from the grief experienced when presented with the unexpected challenges of supporting a child with special needs to a position of empowerment after gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to integrate into their new and reimagined lives. This research addresses the following question: “What is the role of Early Intervention Specialists (EISs) in supporting parents of children with unexpected congenital blindness?” Using case study methodology, the authors interviewed 2 mothers in Australia, when their children were aged 5 years and again 5 years later to gather a longitudinal understanding of their interactions with EISs. These narratives underscore the critical importance of the specialized knowledge EISs provide in empowering caregivers to take control of their child's therapy needs and advocate for their full participation within educational contexts and the community.
Keywords
blindness, early intervention, empowerment, parent-implemented intervention, vision impairment
Date
2021
Type
Journal article
Journal
Infants and Young Children: an interdisciplinary journal of special care practices
Book
Volume
34
Issue
3
Page Range
225-240
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Education
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
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Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled